Welder&#39;s unit



H. BRANDT WELDERS UNIT April 10, 1945.

Filed Dec. 3, 1942 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR Hozuafcl BY 4 5 EORNEYS WITNES5E5 April 10, 1945. H. BRANDT 2,373,161

WELDER S UNIT Filed Dec. 3, 1942 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR Howard Brandi W BY A ORNEY5 WITNESSES Patented Apr. 10, 1945 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE WELDER'S UNIT Howard Brandt, New York, N. Y.

Application December 3, 1942, Serial No. 467,716

2 Claims.

This invention relates to a unit which is designed and adapted to be used advantageously by welders for carrying out welding operations.

The invention also relates to the components of a welder's unit by virtue of which a unit of efhcient and substantial design is obtained.

Some of the objects and advantages of the present invention are as follows. There is provided a unit, including a device for handling an electric-welding rod, which enables the user to avoid lifting a cumbersome electric current conductor or cable, and to enable the user to go from one welding job to another without carrying along with him a long length or cable leading from a suitable source of electric current to the electrode rod of welding material, to the end that the user will not easily become tired. It provides an efllcient and eflectual electrical connection from the source or supply of the electric current through the flexible insulated cable to the welding rod which makes contact with the work, thereby giving full voltage and amperage needed and supplying the same steadliar and constantly due to the elimination of poor and faulty connections and high resistances. Such elimination prevents burning and pittin of the holder conductors on the handle against which the welding rod has to make its contact and electrical connection. When the welding rod is removed from the handle, it, is possible to lay the handle down in any position. upon any object, work or the ground. without causing a short circuit or an electrical contact of the live parts of the handle with anything it is resting on, because of the novel features of the handle.

The handle provides a pistol grip and is otherwise designed that it may be gripped in a comi'ortable and natural manner by the user over a long period of time without becoming tired in manipulating the handle while carrying out the welding of the work. A welding rod of the largest or smallest cross-sectional size may be held on the handle disposed in any position within an arc of a circle so the user may always hold his hand in a natural straight-forward position while welding.

With the foregoing and other objects in view the invention consists in the construction. arrangement and combination of the parts described in the following specification, defined as to scope in the appended claims, and illustrated by way of example in the accompanying drawings,inwhlch Hg. 1 is a view showing the invention in use;

Fig. 2 is a view of the unit detached, and portions thereof being broken away;

Fig. 3 is a side view of the cable splice or coupling;

Fig. 4 is a section of the line 4-4 of Fig. 3; Fig. 5 is a section on the line 5-5 of Fig. 3; Fig. 6 is a top view of one section of the splice or coupling;

Fig. 7 is a side view of the welding rod holder I and handle, a portion thereof being broken away; Fig. 8 is a top view of the holder and handle;

Fig. 9 is an enlarged section on the line 9-9 diing an electrode rod l5 of suitable welding material, and a supporting means It for the cable Ill. The splice or coupling I3 is composed of two main sections, there being a section: ll, electrically connected with one end of the cable section II and a section l8 electrically connected with one end of the cable section l2. The other end of the cable section I2 is electrically connected with the device H. The remaining end of the cable section II i connected with a generator to furnish a suitable source of electric current which is transmitted by the cable Hi to the rod It for producing the arc in carrying out the welding operation.

In accordance with the invention, one or the other of the sections of the splice or coupling i3 is adjustably connected with the support it, and in the present instance the section 18 is so-connected, while the other section I1 i detachably yet securely connected with the ssection l8 so that both sections l1 and I8 together with the cable sections l2 and II will be carried by the support it which is applied to the user of the unit. Therefore, the user need only lift the relatively short cable section lt'instead of a longer and heavier cable and it enables the user to go from one welding job to another without carrying along with him a long length cable leading from the source of electric current. In this connection it is obvious that the device it, cable section l2. coupling section It and the support It as a unit stay right on the person of the user as he moves from one job to another. The cable section II may be detached whenever desired and allowed to remain connected with the generator.

The splice section II, shown most clearly in Figs. 4 and 5, is in the nature of a socket element and consists of two blocks or'elongated pieces l9 and respectively, of insulating material such as fiber, Bakelite or any other suitable material. An electrode 2| is secured to the piece I Is by screws 22 or the like. The electrode 2| is electrically connected with one end of the cable section II in any practical manner, use being made of a terminal 23 on the cable and a bolt and nut 24 in the present instance. A hole in the electrodejand the eye of the terminal 23 receive the bolt and the nut threaded on the bolt clamps the terminal 23 tightly against the electrode. The piece 20 is secured to the electrode 2| by screws 25 or the like, there being a spacer 26 between the electrode 2| and said piece 20, and said electrode is disposed between said pieces l9 and 29 lying entirely within the confines thereof due to the fact it is both narrower and shorter than said pieces. trode 2| and piece 28 are beveled. A transverse groove 21 in the piece 20 provides a readily flexible portion 28 which ha thereon a wear plate 29 held by a screw 30 carried by the portion 28.

Said plate 29 is disposed in a wedge shape depression and is adjustable by reason of the extra tapped holes.

The splice section i8 is in the nature of a plug element and in the present instance consists of two blocks or pieces 3| and 32 respectively, of

insulating materiah, The piece 3| is rectangular and is longer and wider than the piece 32. The piece 32 is of channel formation. An elongated electrode 33 is secured to the piece 3| by screws 34 or the like in spaced relation thereto by reason of the spacer 35, also held by the screws 34. One end of the electrode 33 is-electrically connected with one end of the cable section l2 by a terminal 36 on said end and a screw 31 which passes through the eye of the terminal 36 in threaded engagement with the electrode 33. .The piece 32 is secured in position by screws 38 or the like and extending through the piece 32 in threaded engagement with the spacer 35. One portion of the electrode 33 is housed by the pieces 3| and 32 and a portion 39 of the electrode is exposed for engagement with the forward end of the electrode 2|. The portion 39 may be disposed between the electrode 2| and the flexible portion 28. V

In order to press the portion 39 of electrode 33 in contact with th electrode 2|, there is provided a lever 49 having a cam 4|. The lever 49 is fulcrumed by a pivot 42 on a yoke 43 secured to the piece 3| by screws-44 or the like. The lever has limited movement in one direction by means of a stop pin 45 on the lever engageable with a notch in theyoke 43. The cam 4| is adapted to cooperate with the plate 29 when the sections IT and I8 are brought together to bring the portion 39 of the electrode 33 beside the electrode'2l'. The piece l9 of the section I! engages the piece 32 to limit the sliding movement of the section I! on the section I8. By manipulating the lever 49 forwardly the cam 4| bears on the plate 29- flexing the portion 28 which, in turn, flexes the portion 39 into rigid contact with the electrode 2|, thereby forming a good solid electrical contact; thereby achieving electrical conduction from the source of supply of the electric current to the device l4 which holds the welding rod. The cam 4| is so arranged .that when disposed inits active position it becomes self-tightening if a pull is exerted rearwardly on the cable section II.

The device M which is" designed and adapted for holding the welding rod IS in carrying out the welding operation, consists of two pieces 48 and 41, respectively, of insulating material such as fiber, Bakelite, or other suitable material. The piece 46 is of angular formation to provide a grip portion 48 and an extension 49 on the portion 48. The piece 41 conforms generally to the grip portion 48. An electrode 50 is secured between the pieces 46 and 41 by screws 5| or the like, which hold the pieces 46 and 41 together. The electrode so is connected with t e forward" end of the The forward ends of the eleccable section |2 by means of a terminal 52 on said end and a fastener 53 which extends through the eye of the terminal 52 and is screwed into the electrode 59. The pieces 46 and 41 are recessed to accommodat the cable section I2. The piece 41 and the portion 48 constitute a pistol grip for the device N. A thumb rest 54 is arranged on each side of the piston grip, the same being formed integral with the piece 41 and portion 48 respectively, so that the device l4 may be used by a right-handed or left-handed person. The pistol grip, together with the thumb rest,

I gives the user a confortable grip of the palm and makes it possible to manipulate the device with the extra leverage of the thumb without gripping the handle tightly with the fingers. This allows the fingers to be in a, natural position without tension whichwould cause them to be- 7 come tired and cramped if used for a long period of time.

arc of a circle sothiat the user may always hold his hand in anaturzl straight-forward position when welding,there is provided a, novel means as follows. A screw 56 is provided with a head 51. The screw extends loosely through the extension 49 and the electrode 58, the latter, being provided with aligned holes for that purpose.

The screw' 56 has a hole 58 extending transversely therethrough. "The hole 58 has converging walls which form all shape notch in the'inn'er face of the head 51 extending diametrically thereof. A knurled knob 59 is applicable to the screw 56 and bears against the extension 49. The head 5'! has applied thereto a disc 6| of insulating ma; terial, the same being secured in place by screws 62 or the like' to insulate or protect'the screw.

The hole 58 in the screw 56 is designed and adapted to receive a, welding rod of the largest versely of the screw 55 it will liebetween the electrode 58 and the head 51 so that when the knob is turned on the screw 56 it will draw the latter axially to effectually clamp the rod in electrical contact with the electrode 50. The welding rod l5 will be positively held in the selected position on the handle because it is securely held between the grooved face of the head 51 andthe electrode 50. The V shape hole 58 allows whatever size welding rodis used, to find its bearing on the walls 59 which compensates for its size. The screw 56 maybe turned to any desired position of adjustment in order to place the welding rod in the desired position or arc of a circle before drawing the screw up to retain the rod l-5 in place. his hand in a, natural straight-forward position no matter at what angle he may have to weld,

The forward end of the extension 49 is protected by a metal guard 55 secured thereto This allcws the user to always hold the welding hereinabove described. It is to be understood at that angle between the stroight-torward that the invention is not restricted to the precise of the work construction hereinabove described, but that detailas oi construction may be modified and re- The supporting means il, in the present in- 5 arranged within the spirit of the appended claims theususlbucklell. Ifdesiredthisbeltmay Iclsim:

be provided with shoulder strips in order to sive 1. A welder's tool comprising a handle of nonadditional support to the cable II and connected conducting material, an electrode on the handle, parts. The splice 0r coupling II is slidable on the w a bolt carried by said handle and extending t I nd this is m l d by e p i n through said electrode, said bolt having a hole of the splice section e to receive o. welding bar so that it extends radit flll r to just the cable I l ally therefrom, and a nut of insulating material NM me but of on said bolt bearing on the handle to clamp said na ure f the work 15 her in electrical contact with said electrode.

t. B Prime, 2. In a welding device, a handle of non-con- The connection of the power ducting material, an electrode on said handle, a distinct adVlntI-I a bolt supported by the handle for axial and 9 turning movement with respect to said electrode, ohm the said bolt having a transversely extending hole W therethrough, and a clamping nut on said bolt. theprovisionandarrangementoipartsbelng t such thst an electrode or welding msterisl may A bereceivedinsaidholeandsetlnanyradialpm In sitionwithinanmotacirclewithrespecttothe 'm axisottheboltandthenbesecurelyclampedin' theselectedpositionincontactwiththeilrst andsdnntegesottheinventim mentionedelectrode.

W HOWARD 

